Producer of TV Martí’s Estado de SATS Jailed

November 8, 2012

Antonio Rodilles

Miami – Antonio Rodiles, the Cuba-based independent producer of the Emmy-nominated TV Martí program Estado de SATS , has been jailed in Havana after seeking information on the arrest of two Cuban dissidents.

Rodiles was arrested when he and the six others went to the Ministry of the Interior in Havana to ask about the status of of two independent attorneys, Yaremis Flores and Veizant Boloy, who had been arrested earlier in the day.

Later, Blogger Yoani Sánchez, who had been blogging about the incident, was also detained. Sánchez is the author of the influential blog Generación Y, which has gained a global audience with its critical portrayal of the Cuban government.

“We will continue to investigate the details of this situation and accurately report the treatment of Antonio Rodiles, Yoani Sánchez and all involved,” Guillermo Santa Cruz, general manager of Radio and TV Martí.

According to Cuban blogger and Radio Martí contributor Orlando Luis Pardo, the arrests were violent and the seven dissidents were all sent to different Havana jails. All of those arrested along with Rodiles are frequent participants and guests on Estado de SATS.

Although Cuban authorities have said nothing about the arrests, Rodiles’ parents said he is being held on contempt charges.

TV Martí promo for Estado de SATS

Estado de SATS is a weekly program made in Cuba, with wrap-around segments produced in Miami, that tackles the realities and challenges faced by Cubans. The show was nominated for an Emmy this fall by the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Rodiles had continued to produce the show despite arrests, beatings and persistent surveillance by Cuban authorities.

“From its beginning Estado de SATS has meant intense work,” he said after hearing of his Emmy nomination last month. “The best part is that we have been able to create bridges with different projects and other people have begun to collaborate, people that were once isolated.”

Rodiles has described the program as “a series of public encounters focusing on ever-evolving subject matter.” Since its launch earlier this year, the program has featured content ranging from interviews with Cuban thought-leaders, to footage of live music events, to political discussions.